coping

[Guest guest]

I ran into a particular situation yesterday that keeps coming up. Maybe

you will have some insights. Whenever I go out with my friends, I come

home depressed. I enjoy getting away and being with them, but it drives

>me nuts that they are dealing with such mundane things that I don't

>even have time to consider. One gal had spent all morning yesterday

>cleaning I just wanna crawl under the table cuz I have nothing to >talk

about that is equally mundane. I feel so " different " from >everyone

else now. Does that feeling get better?

For me, no. Anyone else?

What I do is surround myself with many friends that have difficulties

just as serious as mine so I only have to deal with the " clueless "

friends once a week or so. I get so mad listening to this one friend

complain every week about her in laws and other mundane problems and

when I mention what the school district pulled on me at the IEP mtg (or

some other problem) she says something like " Well, why let that bother

you? " Oh, you're right, my child's future is not nearly is upsetting as

your meddling inlaws, right?!

I also get even more depressed seeing everything come so easily for

their children. When they get a cold they don't stop playing or

breathing, and when they want to throw a ball, they just do it, they run

like liquid in motion, I could go on. I guess this is harder for me

because Caitlyn is my only child, so I've never gotten the chance to

experience the joy of a child meeting a milestone without months of

therapy. I know that even if I wanted to have another child, I wouldn't

be able to stand watching him (or her) develop normally. I'd probably

put him in front of the TV all day to prevent him from surpassing

Caitlyn developmentally.

Sorry I can't offer you much help. Again, by limiting my exposure to

these people I am better able to cope. I'm sure this isn't helping

Caitlyn any, but it's more important that I stay sane enough to care for

her than to expose us to " typical " children/families each and every day.

(I know I'm going to get hell from a lot of people out there for these

views. Just remember, we all have different coping mechanisms).

Jeanne